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Developing Delgado learning to limit long balls

Developing Delgado learning to limit long balls

7/26/13: Randall Delgado gets doused on the field as he discusses his first career shutout in a 10-0 win vs. the Padres

By Tyler Emerick
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MLB.com |

PHOENIX -- As Randall Delgado closes out his first season in a D-backs uniform with two more starts, the right-hander can look back and consider his 2013 campaign a successful one.

After losing out to Patrick Corbin in Spring Training for the final spot in the club's rotation, Delgado bounced back in the Minors and eventually earned himself a callup to Arizona, where has started 17 games and delivered quality outings -- at least six innings with three earned runs or fewer -- in 11 of them.

But for Delgado to take the next step in his development in 2014, there is one area in particular he'll have to clean up. The 23-year-old has served up a staggering 21 homers in his 17 starts -- 1.78 home runs per nine innings. That number ranks third worst in the Majors among pitchers with at least 100 innings in 2013.

"He's a young kid, he's still figuring it out and he's learning," D-backs manager Kirk Gibson said. "He just needs better pitch location. I think he's working to get more movement on his pitches, too."

Despite the home runs, Delgado has still managed to keep his ERA sub-4 this season, something that gives the D-backs good reason to believe the righty, who will face the Rockies in Friday's series opener at Coors Field, will only be that much better when he learns to better keep the ball in the park.

"He's strong, he's dedicated, and I've said this before, he's got a good future," Gibson said. "He's just finding out what he's got right now."

Tyler Emerick is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.